Turning Five

My sweet baby boy will be turning 5 today.  Everything you have ever heard about how fast life goes is so true.  This time with him has been a whirlwind.  But I remember his birth almost like yesterday.

It was June 1st which is my grandmother's birthday.  I was 9 1/2 months pregnant (not due until June 15th).  I decided to take my grandma to two of her favorite places for her birthday - the Goodwill and then Ponderosa (to eat).  We went to both of those places and had a great day.  I decided to stop at Wal-mart on the way home for a few groceries.  The baby was feeling REALLY heavy by this time, but I thought it was just because I was on my feet for most of the day.

We went shopping at Wal-mart and right before we left we went to the garden center because I thought it would be nice to get Grandma a flower for her birthday.  As we were picking out the flower I felt something and I just knew that I had peed my pants.  I didn't take time to check it out because we were almost done.  We just hurried home and I didn't say anything to Grandma.  When I got home I changed clothes and decided to fix myself a bowl of cereal.  When I finally sat down there was this gush.  So then I knew - my water had officially broken.  It was about 8:00 at night.

I called my friend Heather (who lives in Missouri) and asked her everything.  Then I called my other friend Darlene and asked her what she thought.  They both said the same thing, call your doctor you are in labor (or you will be shortly).  So I called my doctor and she told me to come in to be checked and I told her I didn't want to come in because I would feed dumb if I wasn't in labor.

Finally between the doctor and my husband, I was convinced to go to the hospital.  We were on our way and I started feeling slight contractions.  It was now 11:00pm.  When I got to the hospital they did a test on me to make sure my water had broken but they knew that it had.  I was then given the gown and an IV (which I HATE SO BADLY).  I was checked and found out that I was only at a 2, arg.

Since this was my first baby I wasn't sure what to expect.  I mean I had watched "A Baby Story" on TLC numerous times but I was still pretty clueless.  I could hear a woman screaming in the room beside me.  My nurse came in and I told her I could hear that poor lady screaming.  The nursed laughed.  She told me that I was dilated more than she was and that I was not even doing anything.  I wasn't sure if that was good or bad.

Let me stop here to tell you that I do not like needles of any shape or size.  I am afraid of them.  I don't do well at the site of blood.  I have passed out after having my blood drawn.  So I was very nervous about the epidural (and yes I had decided to get one).  I was having more intense contractions and I was checked again and I was at a 4.  I asked for the epidural then, but they told me I shouldn't get it too soon and that I could have a shot.  I chose the shot.  I distinctly remember the clock looking kind of wavy and feeling really "good" after I got the shot.

What was really bad was that the hospital that I deliver at will not let you walk if your water has broken for risk of infection.  So I had to sit there doing nothing for hours and hours and hours.  Finally I got my epidural and it was not even bad (coming from someone who hates needles).  I was feeling pretty good.  But what they really don't tell you about epidurals is that you have to keep being turned over for it to work on both sides and it never worked completely well on my right side.  Also, I let my bag run out and there was an hour gap before the doctor could get me another bag so when I was dilated to 9 I felt everything for about an hour.  Going from comfort to a 9 was not a good time.

Also, I was going on my 20th hour of labor and the baby's heart beat was starting to go down.  I was completely against C-sections (see my fear of needles above) unless of course it was an absolute necessity so I was begging them not to do it.  My doctor decided to try something and she decided to put more fluid in so that the baby could still move around a little.  This seemed to help for a little while but it wasn't long before his hear rate went down again.  My nurse told me that they had the bucket outside my door and a room ready to give me a C-section, but fortunately I dilated to a 10 and started pushing before they had to do anything else.  By now I had been in labor for 22 hours.  I pushed for about 15 minutes and there he was.

My husband kind of freaked out because he was all purple and his hair was matted and curly.  But he was healthy and we were SO thankful for that.  It was the craziest and most amazing moment of my life.  It was wonderful beyond description.  I could not believe that I was a mother and my husband was a father and that we had this beautiful little man.  I woke up every few minutes that first night and I would forget that I had a baby until I saw him laying in his bassinet next to my bed.

People can tell you what to expect and what life will be like, but you have no idea until you actually experience it for yourself.  My new little man was amazing and I loved him so much.

We are just incredibly grateful God has given us the opportunity to raise this little guy.  He just is such a loveable boy and such a blessing.  He hugs you several times a day.  He tells me he loves me all of the time.  He does the funniest things.  He loves the backs of the boxes that his toys come in more than his toys.  He keeps them with him for weeks and shows us all of the other toys that you can buy.

He has a very tender heart. He can now ride his bike but still with the training wheels.  When he prays for our meals he says, "Thank you Lord for this delicious food."  How great is that?  What else can I say, I just love that little guy?